ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE September 13, 2017 OP-ED BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TONY RACKAUCKAS DEBUNKING RECENT HARVARD STUDY ON PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT The numbers were startling. According to media reports, a newly formed group affiliated with Harvard Law School called the “Fair Punishment Project” (FPP) supposedly reviewed court decisions from 2010 to 2015 involving the Orange…

Contact: Stephen Puetz, (760) 716-9250 Lincoln Club of Orange County Endorses Tyler Diep for Assembly Support from the Prominent Business Group Brings Additional Early Clout to Diep’s Campaign (Westminster, CA) – Westminster Councilman Tyler Diep announced today that the Lincoln Club of Orange County has endorsed his campaign for State Assembly. The announcement comes just a…

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE ORANGE COUNTY TREASURER AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY/ PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR TEAM UP TO BECOME FIRST GOVERNMENT AGENCY IN THE NATION TO IMPLEMENT MEDALLION SIGNATURE GUARANTEE STAMP PROGRAM SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County Treasurer Shari Freidenrich became the first local government “Certified Medallion User” of a Medallion Signature Guarantee Stamp after…

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2017 Case # 15CF1637 FORMER COSTA MESA POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS IN JAIL FOR COMMITTING INSURANCE FRAUD AGAINST CITY OF COSTA MESA SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) officer was sentenced to six months in county jail today…

According to media reports, a newly formed group affiliated with Harvard Law School called the “Fair Punishment Project” (FPP) supposedly reviewed court decisions from 2010 to 2015 involving the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The “study” found that the OCDA had seven convictions reversed due to prosecutorial misconduct and 24 overall findings of prosecutorial misconduct, and these numbers were ranked amongst the highest in the state. Curiously, the authors of the report chose not to “show their work” behind their claims, or list any of the qualifying cases they had deemed to be prosecutorial misconduct. The media accused our prosecutors of “cheating” to win, and wrote an editorial stating “these are not cases of errors, but of willful and serious misconduct,” while a local politician who covets the Office of the District Attorney proclaimed we had “the worst record in the entire state.” Continue reading→

Support from the Prominent Business Group Brings Additional Early Clout to Diep’s Campaign

(Westminster, CA) – Westminster Councilman Tyler Diep announced today that the Lincoln Club of Orange County has endorsed his campaign for State Assembly.

The announcement comes just a week after Diep launched his campaign with the immediate support of current 72nd Assemblyman Travis Allen and a strong fundraising lead of $260,000 cash on hand. Continue reading→

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County Treasurer Shari Freidenrich became the first local government “Certified Medallion User” of a Medallion Signature Guarantee Stamp after completing the training required by the program. She affixed the first Medallion Guarantee Stamp to several documents for the Office of the District Attorney/Public Administrator (OCDA/PA) Tony Rackauckas last week. Treasurer Freidenrich and OCDA Rackauckas worked together to increase the efficiency relating to the estates administered by the PA. Traditionally, this service has been done by a financial institution, and in December 2016, the County of Orange became the first government agency to be approved to become a Securities Transfer Agent Program Guarantor. Rackauckas stated, “It is very satisfying to work with Treasurer Freidenrich, to solve a problem that has existed for many years. I expect other counties will follow our lead. Most importantly, with the Medallion Guarantee Stamp in place at the County, we will be better and more efficient in serving the needs of decedents, beneficiaries and families in our County.” Continue reading→

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) officer was sentenced to six months in county jail today for committing insurance fraud by presenting a false insurance claim and making false material statements related to the claim.

Defendant: Ryan Patrick Natividad, 32, Corona

Found guilty by a jury on Feb. 16, 2017, of one felony count each of: Continue reading→

Santa Ana, Calif. – Tom Koutroulis has been appointed to the position of Director of Waste & Recycling (OCWR) for the County of Orange. Koutroulis was selected following a nationwide search and a competitive recruitment process.

Koutroulis has dedicated his professional life to the waste industry and has more than 25 years of experience in a variety of roles. He has spent the last 13 years of his career in leadership roles with Waste Management, Inc. and most recently served as the Senior Manager for Organics Project Development. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Irvine and a Master of Business Administration in Technology Management and Implementation from the University of Phoenix. Continue reading→

Orange County Republican Party Endorses Initiative to Repeal the Gas Tax

Orange County, CA – The campaign to Repeal the Gas Tax announces the endorsement of the Initiative by the Orange County Republican Party.

“The Orange County Republican Party is proud to join the fight against this unprecedented gas tax hike which disproportionately affects California’s middle-class families and working poor”, said Orange County Republican Party Chairman Fred Whitaker. Continue reading→